Tailored for the Indian customers, Ford has launched Figo Aspire sedan after a long lull. Built from the get go, Ford Figo Aspire does not feature any trace of Figo hatchback (outgoing version), interestingly the hatchback is also up for a facelift which will be popped out soon. The sedan which has been constructed in tandem with Indian driving conditions is by far the most suited Ford as for Indian roads are concerned. Sharp contours of the sedan are complemented well by elegant styling. Cabin is roomy and gets an array of comfort goodies inside. However, it remains to be seen how well Ford has crafted Aspire to withstand fierce competition in compact sedan segment.
Exteriors are convincing, the fundamental silhouette doesn’t let the sedan fall prey for an under sized sedan. Despite measuring under four meters, the smart designing makes the sedan appear quite sumptuous. What works in its favour in terms of looks is the swanky front profile. The hexagonal shaped radiator grille in front with neatly laid chrome slats and chrome surrounds snatches attention in no time. Swooping head lights have been designed aesthetically. The sharp creases on the bonnet flowing vertically bring prominence to the engine hood. Body painted front bumper gets fog lights, air intakes and black insert at the bottom.
View from side is not very convincing, the boxy window frame fades away the styling cues such as strong beltline. Tyres seem under sized compared to the huge metal mass resting above it. 14 inch eight spoke alloy wheels are shod with the 175/65 R14 tyres. Outside rear view mirrors and outside door handles are painted in body colour. The ORVMs get power adjustable feature along with integrated indicators. Fenders lack indicators, they get chrome insert instead. Rear is appealing too and makes do for the plain jane side profile. D-shaped tail lights on either end of the boot appear striking. Bumper matches body colour and features creases on the either end along with a black insert at the bottom. A thick chrome band is also fitted on the top-spec variant which for some reason does not appeal much.
Cabin is spacious all thanks to the long wheelbase measuring 2491 mm. Comfort quotient is good too, particularly in the front, there is enough space for passengers to be seated snugly. Rear is cramped, that said the knee space and shoulder room is not considerable hence there isn’t enough room for three passengers as per comfort goes. Featuring dual tone colour theme, the black and beige interiors look plush. Dashboard which is a little low in height offers comfortable view to driver and co-passenger.
The company claims that Aspire has 20 storage points inside the cabin which includes two bottle holders in front doors and three cup holders on centre console. Glove box is a good size storage point, besides there are various cubbyholes meant for ample storage. Luggage compartment offers 359 litres of space which is not impressive, Honda Amaze leads in this section with 407 litres of boot space.
Features in Ford cars are always top notch and Aspire is no exception, there are several segment first features offered inside the cabin such as leather upholstery in range topping trim, MyFord Dock and Ford MyKey. Other than the above mentioned features, the cabin also gets fitments like front and rear head rests, power windows in front & rear, tilt adjust steering, multi-information display, height adjuster for driver’s seat, automatic climate control, keyless entry, electric boot release, steering mounted controls, mobile phone dock, Bluetooth stereo with four speakers, a 4.2 inch information screen with Sync feature and CD player.
Engine set up comprises of one diesel and two petrol motors. Powering the diesel variants is a 1.5 litre TDCi powertrain which also serves in EcoSport and Fiesta. Outputting peak power and torque of 100 PS of power and 215 Nm respectively, the diesel motor is mated to a conventional five-speed manual transmission. Petrol trims are proffered in two engine options, one is the 1.2 litre mill engendering 88 PS and 112 Nm, this engine also works in unison with a five-speed manual tranny. Paired to a six-speed dual clutch auto box is the 1.5 litre Sigma petrol engine good for 112 PS and 136 Nm.
Fuel economy numbers are imposing, the 1.5 litre diesel engine is tuned to run up to 25.83 kms in a litre. The 1.2 litre petrol engine returns ARAI certified fuel economy of 18.16 kmpl which is commendable. Automatic petrol variant yields 17 kmpl which is slightly less than the petrol manual version.
A good product needs to be backed by competitive pricing and who will understand it better than Ford who failed to sell Fiesta facelift (2011 version) despite it being a viable saloon. Hence, this time Ford tagged Aspire carefully, since it is a new product, it simply could not afford going wrong. The 848 sub-assembly parts used in Aspire translates into steep low pricing, that said the range starts at Rs 4.89 lakh, the diesel range begins at Rs 5.89 lakh and petrol automatic is priced at Rs 7.79 lakh (all prices mentioned are ex-showroom Delhi).
In the arena, Figo Aspire will face off with strong competitors like Maruti Swift Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and Tata Zest. Needless to say, Swift Dzire which has been outselling all new entrants would be a tough nut to topple. Besides Dzire, Aspire could get close competition from Xcent and Aamze. While it has been packaged well, the name game matters a lot when it comes to car buying. However the pompous dimensions, powerful engine line up, pleasing exteriors and pleasurable interiors are reason enough to mull over this new option out on sale now. Pricing is yet another strong point that will back Aspire’s popularity in India.
Overcrowded and set to get more new entrants in future, the compact sedan segment has swelled in the past couple of years. This turned out to be a great challenge for Ford, but to the company’s respite Aspire has been contoured well to hold a strong place for itself. It may not be a car that sends thrills to performance enthusiast, but it is definitely a nice city driving car that gets a practical cabin with ample storage and seeks relatively low running cost.
Story Source:
Shubhananda Bera from AutoPortal.com